Improvement in inhaling apparatus



. A. E PURSELL. Improvement In inhaling Apparatus.

Patented Oct. 1, 1872" III III IIF \xwenkov ed by e.

ABNER n. Peasant, or mnmmrotis, mmxm.

IMPROVEMENT m INHALING APPARATUS.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER E. PU'RsELL, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a Device for Inhaling Gases and Vapors, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of my invention relates to the combination and arrangementof a soft-rubber hood or cup, such as will hereinafter be described, of such a form that it will fit over the mouth of the patient, and two hinged shields of sheet metal, hereinafter to be described,

with a helical spring, also to be described, in such a way as to form an automatic mouth:

3 piece for the inhaling of gases and vapors,

adapted to fit any ordinary mouth.

The second part of my invention relates to the combination and arrangement of the various parts of astop-valve in the body of the inhaling-tube, as will hereinafter be more fully ber, represented by a, is placed upon the tube b, which tube is to be a littleflattened at the end on which the rubber cup or hood is placed. This cup or hood to is thickened at a, as shown in section 3 in Fig. 2, and gradually thinned off at thesame edgeuntil it becomes as represented in Fig. 4. This rubber cup or hood or is supported by a metal shield consisting of two pieces, represented, respectively, by b and b, each of which terminates in a strap represent- These straps are hinged in convenient jaws at f. These jaws are so constructed that the side pieces act as a brace upon the edges of e to prevent it from playing from side to side, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. d is a helical spring of sufficient length to wrap around the shields b and b, and is supported in the hooksc and c, as represented in the drawing. 9- is avalve. for the exit of the patients breath. m is a valve fitting on the end of the interior tube at to regulate the entry of v Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,780, dated October 1, 1872.

the gas. This valve is controlled by the slides Z and 70. When the binding-screw i is loose the helical spring 11 will alwayshold the slide 1 downupon the valve m and keep it closed, but the slide 1 may be drawn up to, any desired height and then fastened with the binding-screw c. When the screw is released the elasticity of the spring 1) will carry down the slide until it comes against the valve m and holds it to.

For inhaling protoxide of nitrogen or laughin ggas this device is attached to the gas-holder in the usual way, so that the gas may be made to flow through the tube h. The patient now takes the flat end of the tube h in the mouth and presses the inside edge of the rubber hood or cup it against the lips and cheeks. Now, as the spring d, by its elasticity, constantly compresses the rubber cup or hood a, it will be found that a thin face will be effectually fitted by the closing up of this hood or cup 0., and that a fuller face will be just as effectually fitted by the hood or cup a spreadin g out. If the helical spring 41 should be too stiff it may be made to work easier by drawing it down over the knob or button 8 so that the rubber hood or cup amay be more easily extended to accommodate a full face.

The great difficulty which practitioners had heretofore to contend against in administering intoxicating gases and vapors was, that as soon as the patient begins to be smartly influenced he will open his mouth and'breathe so much atmosphere that it will so considerably dilute the gas or vapor as greatly to'hinder its effect. This device aotsso automatically that it will fit any face of any ordinary size in such a way as to effectually prevent such aresult by exeludingthe external atmosphere. The device may be used for theinhalation of any gas or vapor used in medicine or surgery.-

. I claim- 1. The combination and arrangement of the hood 0., the shields b and b, the straps e, the hinges f, the spring d, the knobs s, and the hooks c, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement of the slides l and k, the binding-screw i, and the spring 2, substantially as set forth.

ABNER E. PURSELL.

- Witnesses:

ROBERT KERSTING, EDWARD W. PURSELL. 

